There was an old thread I started some years ago in response to an atrocious Disney TV special featuring this mysterious place name on the Maine coast. That thread is closed but here is a summary of the story behind "Bailey's Mistake":
The story, which periodically surfaces in Maine newspapers, usually has Capt. Bailey sailing off the coast of Washington County in 1809. It's not entirely clear which way he was heading but he had a cargo of lumber piled high on the deck and was probably socked in by fog or otherwise indisposed. It is clear, however, where he ended up, ashore in a large cove south of the Town of Lubec which logically enough is now called Bailey's Mistake. It's generally suggested that Capt. Bailey was so disgusted with what happened that he gave up sailing, salvaged the lumber and built some houses on the cove."
The cove is still named Bailey's Mistake on the coastal charts, and I've been intrigued with what might have happened ever since I first ran across it while perusing the charts tacked up on the wall of Bill Bonyun's music room; Bill was one of my long-time folk music mentors. At any rate I drafted a song a few years ago but was never satisfied with it. I've now refitted it to a different tune and added a verse and chorus and it appears more promising:
Good friends gather round, and the truth I'll relate, How a cove near Lubec became Bailey's Mistake; Now there was a bold captain, with the name of Bailey, Whose ship ended up where 'twas not s'possed to be.
Chorus:
So here's to our captain, with the name of Bailey, Whose ship ended up where 'twas not s'possed to be; Ye mariners all, weigh the risks that ye take, Lest you be remembered like Bailey's Mistake.
He set sail from Boston, Downeast for Lubec, With a cargo of lumber piled high on the deck; He skirted Nantucket with never a fear, And our crew gave a cheer as the Maine coast drew near. (CHO)
As we closed on Lubec, we was socked in by fog, But we continued to sail by compass and log; As our ship ghosted in, "Look sharp!" Bailey said, "You'll soon see the narrows off West Quoddy Head." (CHO)
But, alas, for poor Bailey, no narrows we found, And in a large cove our ship ran aground; Said Bailey, "As sailors, there's no way we can win; Let's unload the lumber, build homes and move in." (CHO)
So here's to our captain, where e'r he may be, A friend to the sailor on land and on sea; He'd be sailing still could he just navigate, But he's doing quite well selling prime real estate.(CHO)